01/31/2012

Moron of the Week, #38

It took me a while to realize that this cyclist was moron-worthy.

But after I had retold the story to a number of people, it occured to me that his behaviour was an object lesson for us all.

The rider was the perfectly equipped cyclist for this snowy, crappy Saturday: gloves, headcovering under helmet, full high-viz jacket, riding a heavy-duty winter-equipped bicycle down Ottawa Street toward the most dangerous intersection in the Waterloo Region: Homer Watson Boulevard and Ottawa Street. Regularly on the Top Five list for collisions, due to become a roundabout.

The light turned yellow, and the motor traffic -- no doubt concerned about the slick and snowy conditions -- slid slowly to a stop. All but the cyclist, who continued on up the grade to the intersection.

Surely, I thought, he will stop on the crosswalk. But no, with the light turning red, he entered the intersection and, I'm sure to the astonishment of the motorists, continued on through the red light.

I know what he was betting: that in such sloppy conditions, no motorist would make a move until they were certain the cross-traffic had come to a complete stop. Taking advantage of that, the cyclist sailed through.

I imagined that he was thinking, "Ha, that'll show all those gas-guzzlers" . . . and I could imagine what a bad taste that left in their mouths. I'm sure some of them were muttering about the "idiot cyclist." What good PR for the rest of the winter cycling community, or the cycling community generally.

Comments

You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

I see where you're coming from Bill and your Moron of the Week deserves his title. But the thing that irritates me a little here is the presumption that we are representatives of the "cycling community" (whatever that is) whilst on the bike. But when a brain dead motorist runs a red, fails to come to a complete stop or turns residential streets into the Indianopolis 500 no one says "Geez, there goes some bad PR for the motoring community." He or she is a just a friggin' idiot behind the wheel of a car.

If this guy was headed East on Ottawa when he crossed over Homer Watson on a light turning red. I’m guessing that he did not want to risk being the lead vehicle on the next green and have to deal with the expressway on ramp traffic. Things get a little crazy at that spot with cars trying to pass a cyclist and still make it to the on ramp. I know, it still does not make it right. I see motorist doing risky moves everyday and they are doing it with 2 ton vehicles and putting everyone at risk.

It's when you see idiots driving a Mercedes turning right on a red light and honking at the cyclist walking his bike in the crosswalk while he has right of way.
Appropriately, the cyclist gave him the one finger salute.

@Rob Mk.2, Although I agree with what your saying, far too many people see one stupid person on a bike and say "all cyclists" are like that.

Bad motoring has almost become something accepted by society.
One local radio host who travels daily from Hamilton to St. Catharines, actually said anyone who travels at or near the speed limit on the QEW (100kph) is irresponsible.

Although not Kitchener related, I'd nominate anyone who travels Ontario's highways, and believes 120kph is the speed limit as moron of the week!